Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lulea and Mexico City

For one person, living is cheaper in Mexico City: $1,567 a month against $1,820 in Lulea, rent and utilities included – about $3,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Lulea
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,820
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,567
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lulea and in Mexico City

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lulea and in Mexico City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,820 in Lulea versus $1,567 in Mexico City.

  • Lulea $1,820
  • Mexico City $1,567

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,946 in Lulea versus $2,450 in Mexico City.

  • Lulea $2,946
  • Mexico City $2,450

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,073 in Lulea versus $3,333 in Mexico City.

  • Lulea $4,073
  • Mexico City $3,333

Living in Lulea is roughly 16% more expensive than in Mexico City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lulea 35% above, Mexico City 16% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71 SEK 116
$10.75 MX$199
8.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$96.1 SEK 952
$50.3 MX$929
91.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.04 SEK 109
$11.10 MX$205
-0.54%
Cappuccino
$4.38 SEK 43.41
$3.68 MX$68.1
19.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 SEK 24.24
$1.65 MX$30.42
48.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 SEK 19.20
$1.30 MX$24.08
49.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.56 SEK 84.8
$3.32 MX$61.3
157.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.41 SEK 93.2
$5.54 MX$102
69.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 SEK 17.99
$1.77 MX$32.68
2.82%
White Bread (500g)
$3.42 SEK 33.84
$3.05 MX$56.4
12.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.75 SEK 47.11
$2.01 MX$37.20
136.32%
Eggs
$4.67 SEK 46.31
$2.77 MX$51.1
68.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.48 SEK 124
$11.91 MX$220
4.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.11 SEK 130
$9.33 MX$172
40.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$26.07 SEK 258
$15.02 MX$278
73.57%
Apples (1kg)
$2.44 SEK 24.16
$3.08 MX$56.8
-20.78%
Banana (1kg)
$2.66 SEK 26.36
$1.95 MX$35.97
36.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.36 SEK 23.36
$2.03 MX$37.54
16.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.16 SEK 41.21
$2.21 MX$40.92
88.24%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 SEK 20.69
$2.02 MX$37.41
3.47%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 SEK 14.82
$1.82 MX$33.67
-17.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.30 SEK 32.69
$1.52 MX$28.07
117.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 SEK 12.59
$1.28 MX$23.65
-0.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.06 SEK 70.0
$5.27 MX$97.4
33.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.04 SEK 119
$16.12 MX$298
-25.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 SEK 17.63
$1.95 MX$36.05
-8.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 SEK 17.53
$4.25 MX$78.6
-58.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.23 SEK 31.99
$0.31 MX$5.82
941.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.5 SEK 560
$19.85 MX$367
184.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$8.73 SEK 86.5
$2.00 MX$36.93
336.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 SEK 20.33
$0.53 MX$9.86
286.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$70.8 SEK 702
$5.62 MX$104
1159.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.74 SEK 17.24
$1.52 MX$28.07
14.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9K SEK 316.5K
$21.0K MX$388.7K
51.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3K SEK 329.9K
$25.2K MX$465.3K
32.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$161 SEK 1,595
$62.5 MX$1,155
157.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.36 SEK 311
$28.77 MX$532
9.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.51 SEK 263
$34.45 MX$637
-23.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.47 SEK 450
$57.1 MX$1,055
-20.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.02 SEK 347
$24.81 MX$458
41.15%
Cinema Ticket
$12.85 SEK 127
$6.67 MX$123
92.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$150 SEK 1,490
$431 MX$7,964
-65.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,570 SEK 55.2K
$11.7K MX$216.9K
-52.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$120 SEK 1,189
$70.8 MX$1,308
69.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.64 SEK 323
$51.8 MX$958
-37.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 SEK 1,188
$109 MX$2,011
10.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$161 SEK 1,593
$112 MX$2,076
43.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$783 SEK 7,763
$1,051 MX$19.4K
-25.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$584 SEK 5,786
$665 MX$12.3K
-12.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,449 SEK 14.4K
$2,346 MX$43.3K
-38.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,104 SEK 10.9K
$1,227 MX$22.7K
-9.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,072 SEK 30.4K
$3,554 MX$65.7K
-13.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,194 SEK 21.7K
$1,977 MX$36.5K
10.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,498 SEK 24.8K
$975 MX$18.0K
156.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
11.3
-65.93%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lulea: October 11, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lulea
$584
Mexico City
$665 13.9% $81
Groceries & Markets
Lulea
$404
Mexico City
$323 20.1% $81
Eating Out
Lulea
$259
Mexico City
$203 21.5% $56
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lulea
$219
Mexico City
$126 42.6% $93
Clothing & Footwear
Lulea
$195
Mexico City
$155 20.7% $40
Getting Around
Lulea
$88
Mexico City
$26 70.8% $63
Sport & Entertainment
Lulea
$71
Mexico City
$70 1% $0.7

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $783 in Lulea and $1,051 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lulea pays 156% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $96.0 in Lulea vs $50.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $404 vs $323 per month, with Mexico City cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇸🇪 Lulea
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🕒 Local time
16:24 4:24 PM
08:24 8:24 AM
8 h behind Lulea
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
73,864
9,209,944 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to SEK – Swedish Krona Converter

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 9.91 SEK (1 SEK = 0.101 USD). 1 EUR = 11.14 SEK (100 SEK = 8.98 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lulea Mexico City 9,370 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lulea
  • Mexico City

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Lulea vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lulea or Mexico City?
Mexico City wins on cost – living expenses run 16% lower than in Lulea. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mexico City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lulea or in Mexico City?
Average pay runs 156% higher in Lulea, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lulea compared to Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $783 in Lulea versus $1,051 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Lulea or in Mexico City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 25% higher in Lulea. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Lulea and in Mexico City?
Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $96.0 in Lulea. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Lulea or in Mexico City?
At $1,567 in Mexico City versus $1,820 in Lulea, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Lulea. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lulea or Mexico City?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mexico City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,567 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mexico City hard to pass up.
How safe is Lulea compared to Mexico City?
Safety-wise, Lulea and Mexico City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Lulea. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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